FABIO CAPELLO came under fresh fire last night after failing to lift some of his players off their knees yesterday.

The Italian blamed fatigue and missed chances for a Euro setback against the unfancied Swiss that does not augur well for the future.

Capello resisted the temptation to point the finger of blame at anyone in particular.

But even he had to admit that England without Wayne Rooney is like strawberries without cream.

And Darren Bent certainly didn’t look anything like cream yesterday as he squandered the sort of chances that prompted former manager Harry Redknapp to say his missus could do better.

“After we got to 2-2 we had four chances to score a third goal, but I could see that some players were without energy and I was worried,” said Capello.

England 2, Switzerland 2

“We have spoken too much about Darren Bent. This time he missed the chances. Four chances were really clear, the last one for Stewart Downing. But they are very good players.”

Capello also failed to clear up why he played James Milner to start with and left Ashley Young on the bench before bringing him on for Frank Lampard.

“I decided to play Milner because I was not sure if Ashley was fit enough. When I decide the line-up I always hope it is the best one.”

Capello said he replaced Frank Lampard with Young in the second half “because I needed to change something”.

“We had played a lot of short passes that didn’t get anywhere near the goal and I needed more pace,” he added.

Goalscorer Young said: “Of course I was disappointed to be on the bench but I took it on the chin and wanted to come on and do the best I can.

“I thought I did well when I came on but everybody in the dressing room is disappointed we didn’t get the win. It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet but it would have been a better feeling if we’d got the three points.”

Young sympathised with Villa team-mate Bent for his misses. “I was thinking we were going to see the ripple of the net but it wasn’t to be,” he said. “He is disappointed but we created chances.